Safety-stirrup.



H. O. BRIDGFORTH.

SAFBTY STIRRUP.

APPLIOATION I'ILnD Mu 13, 1912.

1 ,048 ,803. V Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

TIET. .l. V f *FIE E v ZI 21 70 Z, 7/

Iu o

22% WMA/12mm CULUMBIA PLANDOMPH co.. WASHINQTON, D.

HOSY 0. BRIDGFORTI-I, OF ALTON, MISSOURI.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

Application filed May 13, 1912. Serial No. 696,955.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HosY O. Bnmoronrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alton, in the county of Oregon, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Stirrups; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stirrups, and has particular reference to safety stirrups, whereby the riderls foot will become automatically disengaged from the stirrup in case of accident.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a 'simple device of this character which will automatically open and release the riderls foot should the rider fall.

Other Objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a stirrup made in accordance with my invention, Fg. 2 is a side elevation of the stirrup in closed position, Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, showing the stirrup open.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the stirrup in o open position.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 10 and 11 represent the side bars or plates of the stirrup, which are connected at their upper ends by means of the cross bar 11, to which the stirrup strap 12 is attached. I-Iinged to the lower end of the side member 10 is a foot plate 13, the opposite end of which bears against the lower end of the other of the side member 11.

Seeured near the lower end of the outer face of the side plate 11, is a transversely extending strip 14, to one end of which is secured a depending loop 15, and at the opposite end a depending loop 16. Disposed in parallel relation with the strip 111, and below said strip is a strip 17, which has one end attached to the lower end of the loops 15, and has its opposite end reduced as at 18, to receive thereon the lower end of the loop 16. The lower end of the loop 16 is provided with an eye 19, to which is attached one end of a cord or wire 20. Secured to the front edge faces of the side plates 10 and 11 are the guide eyes 21 through which the cord or wire 20 passes, said cord or wire having its opposite end rigidly secured to the lower end of the plate 10, to which the foot plate is hinged. Secured to the lower face of the free end of the foot plate is an L- shaped member 22 having a hooked portion 23 on its upper end for engagement over the pivoted member 17. o A leaf spring 24 is secured at one end to the strip 111 and bears with its other cnd against the pivoted member 17.

In normal position the parts are as representcd in Figs. 1 and 3 and should the ridcrs foot slip through the stirrup, as often happens when the rider is thrown from the horse, the toc of the foot would press against the cord or wire 20, Which is normally taut, and pull thel lower end of the loop 15 from the reduced end of the pivoted member 17. This would release the weight of the foot plate, so that the pivoted member would swing downwardly and slightly rearwardly on the lower end of the loop 15, so that the hooked portion 23 of the member 22 could readily slide from the free end of the member 17, thus permitting the rider7s foot to pass straight down between the side plates 10 and 11 from the stirrup.

What is claimed is:

In a safety stirrup, the combination with side plates and a hinged foot plate, of a transverse strip secured to one of the side plates, depending loops secured to the ends of the said strip,ra member' pivotally connected to one of the loops, a red-uced portion on the free end of the said pivoted member for engagement by the other of the said loops, a hooked member attached to the free end of the foot plate and engaging over the said pivoted member, and a releasing cord secured at one end to the last-named loop and having its opposite end passed through a series of guides and secured on the other of the side plates, said cord being normally held taut.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

HOSY O. BRIDGFORTH.

Witnesses:

J. C. KERBY, S. T. BnosIUs.

Cop'ies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissoner of Patents, Washington, 2D. 0. 

